Hypertension is when blood pressure is high. If high blood pressure is not treated, you will suffer from many medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, eye problems and even death.
Hypertensive retinopathy is damage to the retinal blood vessels due to high pressure.
The retina is a very delicate and light-sensitive structure of the eye located at the back of the eye.
Hypertensive retinopathy causes the walls of the blood vessels to be thicker, which decreases the amount of blood flowing to the retina, affecting the blood supply to the retina, causing damage to the retina, or to the macula and inclusion. in the optic nerve. As it progresses, there may be blood filtration in the retina, causing an abrupt change in vision.
If the acute disease is severe, they may develop:
- Superficial flame hemorrhages
- Small whitish superficial foci of retinal ischemia (cotton-wool spots)
- Yellowish hard exudates
- Papilledema
If blood pressure becomes dangerously high, the retinal veins can become dilated and twisted and the optic disc become swollen, known as papilledema.
Around 40% of the population in Roatan suffers from hypertension and diabetes.
Treatment consists of lowering blood pressure in the long term and motivate the patient to have a healthier lifestyle. Eat healthy and stay active.
